Site Mobile Navigation

No (Spousal) Benefits for You

Following valid orders from higher-ups is central to how the military functions. At least, it’s supposed to be. But getting every state National Guard unit to comply with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s order that same-sex spouses of military personnel be given full spousal and family benefits is proving difficult.

Mr. Hagel issued his order in August, following the Supreme Court’s ruling in June striking down the Defense of Marriage Act’s denial of federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

As of mid-November, National Guard units in eight states —Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and West Virginia — were refusing to process applications for benefits at Guard facilities, or issue the identification card needed to claim benefits and access medical services on the Guard member’s home base.
Since then the situation has improved somewhat. West Virginia changed course and Texas struck a deal with the Pentagon, under which federal personnel enroll same-sex spouses at state facilities.

Oklahoma, Florida and South Carolina, which were forcing same-sex spouses to travel to Federal facilities in order to apply for benefits, are now subjecting all spouses to that trek. (That’s one way of achieving equality.)

That leaves only three states, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia, in outright rebellion. But that’s still three defiant states too many.

By now, Mr. Hagel’s patience should be running out. If the resistance persists much longer, he will need to respond with concrete actions, including transferring federal funding, equipment and work assignments to National Guard bases in states more respectful of civil rights.